Rich, Adrienne

Adrienne Rich is an American poet and writer whose work has been foundational in feminist thinking about motherhood. She is the author of over 18 volumes of poetry and five works of prose, and her awards include the Lannan Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, the National Book Award, and the MacArthur Fellowship. Rich was born May 16, 1929, in Baltimore, Maryland, and was educated at Radcliffe College, graduating in 1951. She married the economist Alfred H. Conrad in 1953 and became [Page 1078]the mother of three sons. Conrad died in 1970. Her partner since 1976 has been the writer Michelle Cliff. As a writer and activist, Rich is known for her articulation and support of feminist, lesbian, and maternal identity. Although she wrote little poetry directly ...